How to make Linksys Wireless B more secure

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

IS <y@hl.com> wrote:
: I have a Linksys befw11 s4.
: I would like to make is more secure. At the moment all I'm using are the
: factory default settings aside when I enter the IP address and enter the
: router settings.

1. Turn on MAC Address Filtering. Each computer has a unique MAC
address, so you enable only computers that you have allowed on to
access the network. How this is done seems to be unique to each brand
of wireless router - look in your user's manual.

2. Turn on WEP encryption. This can be a pain to setup. It involves
creating four "keys" (strings of characters, like passwords) that get
set at the router/access point, and each computer that uses the
network must have the keys set. Once you get it setup once, it will
always work without having to type in anything, but it can be a pain
to get it working the first time. Again, see your owner's manual.

With the right equipment in the hands of a knowledgeable, determined
hacker, both of these security measures can be defeated, but they'll
keep 99% of the people out. In fact, #1 will keep 99% of the people
out, if WEP is too hard to get going.

Andrew
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Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Andrew wrote:
> IS <y@hl.com> wrote:
>> I have a Linksys befw11 s4.
>> I would like to make is more secure. At the moment all I'm using are
>> the factory default settings aside when I enter the IP address and
>> enter the router settings.
>
> 1. Turn on MAC Address Filtering. Each computer has a unique MAC
> address, so you enable only computers that you have allowed on to
> access the network. How this is done seems to be unique to each brand
> of wireless router - look in your user's manual.
>
> 2. Turn on WEP encryption. This can be a pain to setup. It involves
> creating four "keys" (strings of characters, like passwords) that get
> set at the router/access point, and each computer that uses the
> network must have the keys set. Once you get it setup once, it will
> always work without having to type in anything, but it can be a pain
> to get it working the first time. Again, see your owner's manual.
>
> With the right equipment in the hands of a knowledgeable, determined
> hacker, both of these security measures can be defeated, but they'll
> keep 99% of the people out. In fact, #1 will keep 99% of the people
> out, if WEP is too hard to get going.
>
> Andrew

Also, change the default base IP from 192.168.0.1 to at least
196.168.xyz.1 and change the default user name, SSID, and password on
the router.

Q

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Andrew" <usenetMYSHOES@bizaveMYSHOES.com> wrote in message
news:zcasdzcasdzcasdacc16823013411@bizaveMYSHOES.com...
> IS <y@hl.com> wrote:
> : I have a Linksys befw11 s4.
> : I would like to make is more secure. At the moment all I'm using are the
> : factory default settings aside when I enter the IP address and enter the
> : router settings.
>
> 1. Turn on MAC Address Filtering. Each computer has a unique MAC
> address, so you enable only computers that you have allowed on to
> access the network. How this is done seems to be unique to each brand
> of wireless router - look in your user's manual.
>
> 2. Turn on WEP encryption. This can be a pain to setup. It involves
> creating four "keys" (strings of characters, like passwords) that get
> set at the router/access point, and each computer that uses the
> network must have the keys set. Once

Why do you say 4 keys. I have mine setup with only one key, and it seems to
be working ok, is there an advantage to 4 (I see my Windows dialog has a
place for 4).

Thanks.

Chip

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Chip Orange wrote:
> "Andrew" <usenetMYSHOES@bizaveMYSHOES.com> wrote in message
> news:zcasdzcasdzcasdacc16823013411@bizaveMYSHOES.com...
>> IS <y@hl.com> wrote:
>>> I have a Linksys befw11 s4.
>>> I would like to make is more secure. At the moment all I'm using
>>> are the factory default settings aside when I enter the IP address
>>> and enter the router settings.
>>
>> 1. Turn on MAC Address Filtering. Each computer has a unique MAC
>> address, so you enable only computers that you have allowed on to
>> access the network. How this is done seems to be unique to each
>> brand of wireless router - look in your user's manual.
>>
>> 2. Turn on WEP encryption. This can be a pain to setup. It involves
>> creating four "keys" (strings of characters, like passwords) that get
>> set at the router/access point, and each computer that uses the
>> network must have the keys set. Once
>
> Why do you say 4 keys. I have mine setup with only one key, and it
> seems to be working ok, is there an advantage to 4 (I see my Windows
> dialog has a place for 4).
>
> Thanks.
>
> Chip

Linksys -b wireless routers generate four separate WEP keys from one
text passphrase. The -b nics only use one key, of course. I've never
understood the logic of four keys, but the Linksys nic software, if
used, will accept four keys. AFIK, there is no key rotation scheme.
I've never used the software to manage the connection but simply entered
a single key in both router and nic. Of course, four keys are
immaterial to the OP's question.

Q

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Andrew <usenetMYSHOES@bizavemyshoes.com> wrote:
> IS <y@hl.com> wrote:
> : I have a Linksys befw11 s4.
> : I would like to make is more secure. At the moment all I'm using are the
> : factory default settings aside when I enter the IP address and enter the
> : router settings.
>
> 1. Turn on MAC Address Filtering. Each computer has a unique MAC
> address, so you enable only computers that you have allowed on to
> access the network. How this is done seems to be unique to each brand
> of wireless router - look in your user's manual.
>
> 2. Turn on WEP encryption. This can be a pain to setup. It involves
> creating four "keys" (strings of characters, like passwords) that get
> set at the router/access point, and each computer that uses the
> network must have the keys set. Once you get it setup once, it will
> always work without having to type in anything, but it can be a pain
> to get it working the first time. Again, see your owner's manual.
>
> With the right equipment in the hands of a knowledgeable, determined
> hacker, both of these security measures can be defeated, but they'll
> keep 99% of the people out. In fact, #1 will keep 99% of the people
> out, if WEP is too hard to get going.
>
> Andrew
>

Well, "security" can mean different things. #1 will keep people from
using the access point for internet access or gaining access to a LAN,
but it still leaves traffic susceptible to eavesdropping. Of course,
encrypted web pages and the like will still be safe, but for some people
this might be an issue.